TO: Professional and Scientific Staff
The most recent developments in University Human Resources demonstrate our continuing commitment to support the health and productivity of staff in the work of the University:
Live Healthy Iowa – A Top Ten Finish: The University of Iowa finished 8th among the fifty largest employers participating in this state-wide health promotion which concluded in May. A total of 1,380 faculty and staff of the University participated by recording over 75,000 hours of activity and a combined weight loss of 3,740 pounds during the five month program. Congratulations to those who participated for representing the University and demonstrating their personal commitment to improving their health and wellness.
Wellness Grants Go Local: A pilot program has been launched to provide funding to support local efforts to promote employee health and wellness. The grant-supported projects are intended to make the adoption and maintenance of healthy choices and practices easier or otherwise support a culture of wellness within a work unit. Proposals may be submitted to UI Wellness for funding of up to $10 per employee participating, or up to a $500 maximum per grant. More information is available at: www.uiowa.edu/hr/wellness/wellness_grants
NEW-Preliminary Vacation/Sick Leave Report – More Current Information: University Payroll now provides a Preliminary Vacation/Sick Report (available in Self Service) which is updated daily as new information about individual leave use is submitted. This new report provides a more timely estimate of an individual’s actual accrued leave balances. A final reconciliation of leave accruals and use will continue to be provided for the end of each month and displayed on the regular Vacation /Sick Leave report, but the more frequent updating of the preliminary report will help individuals and departments plan the use of accrued leave more easily and accurately.
Recalibration of Professional and Scientific Pay Structures – Up to Date with the Market: Compensation and Classification staff repeated the process of collecting survey data and analyzing it for changes in salary market rates, in order to make adjustments to the new Professional and Scientific pay structures for FY13. These new pay schedules are being used to help make salary decisions for the FY13 budget year, along with individual job performance and other appropriate considerations.
Competencies – The Knowledge, Skills and Abilities You Use at Work: Human Resources staff continue the process of introducing the use of competencies in setting and documenting your professional development goals and accomplishments, and in setting your goals for future performance evaluations. The key areas of responsibilities (KAR’s) identified in developing the new University job classification describe work in terms of the outcome produced; competencies describe work in terms of the knowledge skills and abilities used to achieve these outcomes. Both can be useful in providing performance feedback and documenting your individual performance. More information, including how supervisors and staff can access competency information through Self Service, available at: http://www.uiowa.edu/hr/classcomp/prof/competencies.html . The use of competencies will be phased in over time, and will eventually become part of an automated performance management system.
International Travel Insurance Program – Free Coverage for Those on University Business: When international travel related to University business or academic work is registered in the Pro Trav system, the travelling employee and/or student is now automatically enrolled in a new International Travel Insurance Program, which provides benefits toward care and/or evacuation due to medical emergencies while travelling. Family members may also be enrolled in the program, but at their personal cost. Additional information is available at: http://www.uiowa.edu/hr/benefits/insurance/trvl.html#USIT
Learning Opportunities about Social Media and More: New courses are now offered through Learning and Development about the uses of various forms of social media. The courses available include an introductory class, as well as classes specific to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. These courses are geared toward the possible use of social media in University work activities, such as in marketing and recruiting. Learning and Development staff are also looking at new technologies for providing learning opportunities to staff. This includes a comprehensive review of Skill Soft and the e-learning resources currently available to faculty and staff.
Coming This Fall:
Tell us About Working at IOWA – Survey 2012 is Coming: Human Resources will be repeating the Working at IOWA engagement survey, previously conducted in 2006 and 2008. This survey provides an assessment of your engagement in your work at the University, as it relates to our overall effectiveness and productivity, and provides an opportunity to identify areas for improvement. The 2012 survey will be shorter, with a modified report format that can be produced more quickly for use by the University community. Human Resources also will be providing additional support for using the survey results to develop action plans in response.
Building a Tracking System for Compliance: Finally, an initiative is underway to build a comprehensive electronic system for tracking the various compliance requirements of individual positions. This will eventually replace the various local systems currently used and provide one system for use throughout the University. Implementation is currently targeted for FY 14.
University Human Resource staff are proud to support you and the rest of the University community through these and our other activities and initiatives. Highlighting these improvements provides me with an opportunity to thank you for your personal contributions toward the mission and goals of the University of Iowa.
Sincerely,
Sue Buckley
Vice President for Human Resources
Last Updated July 2012